BY: Kaloyan Radulov, CEO and co-founder of OMAYA Yachts
For decades, yachts were sold on the promise of absence – a chance to disappear from work, routine and responsibility. To be unreachable was a luxury, but for today’s owners, that idea no longer reflects how they live or operate. Complete disconnection is not realistic for people running global businesses, managing investments or leading teams across time zones. What they want instead is control and the freedom to step away without losing the ability to step back in. That shift is already reshaping how yachts are used and designed.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a clear change in how clients view their time onboard. It’s no longer about working from the yacht, but about stepping away from the pressure to be constantly available, while still retaining the ability to step in when needed.
Reliable offshore connectivity has made this possible, with systems like Starlink allowing owners to access calls, data and communication from virtually anywhere. But the real value lies not in the connection itself, but in the freedom it creates. Rather than structuring their time around meetings and responses, they can shape it around where they are and choose when to engage.
We’re seeing clients who don’t want to be tied to their phones or laptops all day, but at the same time want the confidence that if something important comes up, they can handle it immediately, from wherever they are.
With this, the way yachts are used is also changing. More owners are moving away from short stays and weekend trips towards longer periods onboard – in many cases, months rather than weeks. And that shift changes the brief completely. A yacht designed purely for leisure works well for a few days. Over time, it needs to function differently. It needs to feel like a place you can live in, not just stay in.
We’re having more conversations about living onboard long-term – not just where you relax, but how the space works day to day over extended periods. Adaptable layouts are key, and catamarans are particularly well suited to this. With more usable living space and inherent stability, they allow for environments that support work when required, without feeling defined by it.
One of our clients, an entrepreneur running an international business, approached us with exactly this mindset. She planned to travel globally between locations, spending extended periods onboard while maintaining oversight of her operations.
She didn’t want her workspace hidden in a cabin, but integrated into the main living area. So, we developed a layout within the saloon that allowed her to work comfortably without compromising the feel of the space. The result was not an office onboard, but a living environment that could accommodate work without being overtaken by it.
It’s not about productivity, and it’s not about complete disconnection. Owners are looking for something in between.
Ultimately, it comes down to how each owner chooses to live. The yacht should not dictate that, it should adapt to it. For a new generation of owners, that adaptability is becoming the clearest definition of luxury. Not just where you can go, but the freedom to decide how, and when, you are present.
For more information on OMAYA Yachts, visit omaya-yachts.com
